EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR BILK

"I shan't, sir; you only wants to bilk master, and bolt," replied the waiter.

This gaffer contrived to 'bilk' all the turnpikes in the kingdom.

In the suburb of Bilk there are the Floragarten and Volksgarten, the astronomical observatory and the harbour.

This could be no other than an incantation, and Bilk stood rooted to the spot, unable to advance or retreat.

In short, Bilk had very few brains, and such as he had he occupied by no means to the best advantage.

You are a high-toned, gentlemanly sort of a bilk, and wouldn't take anything you couldn't lift.

Dost thou not wish to pass this gorge, and bilk the toll that's due save I use force to get it?

WORD ORIGIN

1650s, from or along with the noun (1630s), first used as a cribbage term; as a verb, "to spoil (someone's) score." Origin obscure, it was believed in 17c. to be "a word signifying nothing;" perhaps it s a thinned form of balk "to hinder." Meaning "to defraud" is first recorded 1670s. Related: Bilked; bilking.